First Financial Institution to Receive Organizational Leadership
Award; Addresses Accomplishments Across the Company

February 24, 2015 03:34 PM Eastern Standard Time

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Bank of
America for exceptional leadership in response to climate change. The
announcement was made today at the EPA 2015 Climate Change Leadership
Awards.

The bank received the award for Organizational Leadership, which
recognizes companies for their commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions while demonstrating leadership in their business strategies to
reduce carbon pollution. This is the first time that a financial
institution has received the prestigious EPA award in this category.

The EPA, in collaboration with The Climate Registry (The Registry), the
Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), and the Association of
Climate Change Officers (ACCO), presented the award today at the annual
Climate Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., now in its fourth
year.

“We continue to focus on finding innovative ways to invest in clean
energy in every part of our business, ranging from creating investment
and financing opportunities to public-private partnerships and reducing
our own operational impacts,” said Purna Saggurti, chairman of Global
Corporate and Investment Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, who
accepted the award. “It’s an honor to be recognized by these
organizations, which share our commitment to addressing the critical
challenges that we face as a result of a changing climate.”

In its recognition, the EPA noted the bank’s accomplishments, including:

Supporting a lower-carbon economy through a $70 billion commitment to
financing energy efficiency projects, renewable energy, and other
low-carbon initiatives.

Leading the industry in green bond issuance to fund energy efficiency
and renewable energies globally, while working extensively with
financial institutions and environmental groups to establish Green
Bond Principles.

Setting a companywide GHG reduction goal of 15 percent from 2010
levels, while educating employees and vendors on their role to reduce
energy consumption.

Although this marks the first time that a financial services institution
received the EPA’s Organizational Leadership Award, it represents the
second time Bank of America received an EPA Climate Leadership Award; in
2013, the bank was recognized with an “Excellence in Greenhouse Gas
Management” award for setting its greenhouse gas reduction goal.

“I am proud to recognize Bank of America and all of our Climate
Leadership Award winners for their actions to reduce the harmful carbon
pollution that’s fueling climate change,” said EPA Administrator Gina
McCarthy. “Our winners are providing the leadership, commitment, and
solutions needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions and meet the challenge
of a changing climate head on.”

In addition to the EPA award, Bank of America also has been recognized
by the CDP S&P 500 Climate Change Leadership Indices and Dow Jones
Sustainability North America Index. Read
more about the bank’s environmental sustainability recognition.

Bank of America’s $70 billion multi-year environmental business
commitmentSince 2007, Bank of America has dedicated $39 billion to
low-carbon and other environmental business activities. In June 2012,
Bank of America announced a 10-year, $50 billion environmental business
goal to advance lower-carbon economic solutions through lending,
equipment finance, capital markets and advisory activities, carbon
finance and investment advice and solutions for clients around the
world. The $50 billion commitment followed an initial $20 billion
multi-year environmental business commitment announced in 2007 that the
company achieved four years ahead of schedule.

Bank of AmericaBank of America is one of the world's largest
financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and
middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of
banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk
management products and services. The company provides unmatched
convenience in the United States, serving approximately 48 million
consumer and small business relationships with approximately 4,800
retail banking offices and approximately 15,800 ATMs and award-winning
online banking with 31 million active users and approximately 17 million
mobile users. Bank of America is among the world's leading wealth
management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment
banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving
corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the
world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately
3 million small business owners through a suite of innovative,
easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients
through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America
Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.